Director of Student Financial Assistance - Westchester Community College

$104,194 - $160,856/Yr

Westchester Community College - Valhalla, NY

Full-time - Director

Valhalla, NY

Educational Services

About the position

The Director of Student Financial Assistance is a key member of the Enrollment Management Team and reports to the AVP and Dean (Enrollment Management). They work with the Dean to establish and interpret college policies and procedures within the guidelines of funding agencies to administer various financial aid programs to support student accessibility and success. The Director estimates and otherwise projects funding to allocate from the federal government, state and local agencies, as well as college scholarships to ensure continuation of current programs. The Director will also research new programs and recommend changes to existing programs as deemed appropriate. They will supervise professional staff, clerical support staff and student assistants.

Responsibilities

• Manages a diverse office staff and exercises day-to-day administrative and operational oversight.
• Maintains a computerized financial aid system to accurately track funding and dispersal thereof; recommends enhancements to the system by reviewing yearly activity and analyzing efficiency.
• Ensures the appropriate implementation and compliance of all Title IV Federal Student Aid Programs, New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), college scholarships and all other possibilities for student financing, procedures, and regulations.
• Develops written policies and procedures relating to financial aid and designs/updates materials which publicize and explain financial aid programs, the application process, eligibility requirements and students' rights and responsibilities.
• Manages the processing of financial aid applications, student loan defaults, the collection of all required documents and data, the determination of awards, and the College's PeopleSoft and Student Financial Planner database management systems as it pertains to the financial aid process.
• Participates in making policy decisions in areas such as academic pursuit and progress standards for maintaining eligibility for financial aid, tuition deferments, scheduling and disbursement of financial aid, and establishes an institutional policy for the delivery of financial support services to students.
• Conducts studies and completes required reports for all federal and state aid programs for the college.
• Works with students to assemble financial aid packages in accord with federal, state and local guidelines; ensures that the total funding available to the college will serve as many applicants, as possible.
• Collaborates with the offices of Admissions, Bursar, Enrollment Services, Scholarship Office, Registrar, Center for Academic Counseling and Student Success, and the College Bookstore to ensure College compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations policies and procedures.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Guidance or a related field and five years of experience in Student Financial Assistance at a supervisory level; OR Bachelor's Degree in Guidance or a related area and six years of experience in Student Financial Assistance at a supervisory level.
• Sufficient knowledge of federal and state programs of financial assistance to students.
• Standard procedures for analyzing the financial need of individual students from personal and family income and assets.
• Familiarity with the academic environment.
• Ability to plan and supervise the work of others and communicate effectively with individuals and with groups.
• Evidence of responsiveness to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students.
• Evidence of equity-minded practice.

Nice-to-haves

• Competence in the usage of PeopleSoft and Microsoft Office products.
• Knowledge of the Student Financial Planner Student Data Management System.
• Ability to collect, analyze, interpret, and present data.
• Supervisory experience within a collective bargaining environment.
• A strong interest in building cooperative relationships.
• Highly developed problem solving and conflict resolution skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets and comprehensive departmental operations.
• Bilingual verbal and written fluency.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health coverage.
• Choice of defined benefit or defined contribution pension plan.
• Generous leave benefits.
• Access to tax sheltered annuities and a deferred compensation plan.